Oh, hi. šš¼ How are you?
Remember last week when I said the days had sped by and I couldnāt believe it was Friday again? This week has been the opposite. Slow, slow, slow. (Yet I still managed to avoid writing this email until last night.)
Thatās because weāve decided to sell our house (yes, the one we just bought two years ago and planned to live in forever) and move OTP (thatās āoutside the Perimeterā for yāall non-Atlantans, which means āoutside the interstate that encircles the city with a hard boundary line we never thought weād crossā) because even if Pierce gets a job in the city itās just getting more and more expensive to live here and weāre tired of it taking forty-five minutes to go everywhere and weād like to move somewhere quieter with a house we can pay off in, like, five years.
*Takes a deep, calming breath*
This last year has been so full of change for us, and even though Iām having flashbacks to the absolute chaos that was selling and buying at the same time in 2021, the idea of greater financial freedom and a smaller, more intimate community coincides well with what God has been cultivating in our family lately. A slower pace. A release of familiar comforts. A deeper peace in Him instead of things. It hasnāt been easy, and my desire for control is rearing its ugly head more days than not right now, but I mean it when I say we trust in our Father. We know He is faithful, and we are filled with hope.
Our realtor (who we love!) came by yesterday to help us get a sense of whatās next. We donāt yet know where weāll end up, but we have a frontrunner town in mind. It has great schools, a lovely downtown, a lower cost of living, and access to both my family and our church. But as we are still waiting on job news, Pierce and I are holding these plans lightly and praying each day for the wisdom and courage to be a part of Godās work in our lives. I told my family it feels like weāre opening a big present and we have no clue whatās inside. Thankfully, Iāve learned over the years that God is pretty good at surprises š.
Iāll share more when I know more so, once again, would you keep our family in your thoughts and prayers? We appreciate it.
Thanks for being here, friends. I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Point #1: Center Stage is the GOAT.
I donāt know a female Millennial who doesnāt love Center Stage, the campy launching pad for Zoe Saldanaās career with a plot that makes little sense and a dance finale that rivals the cheese of Save the Last Dance, and this hilarious play-by-play had me in absolute stitches. I donāt care what you say! Maybe Jody didnāt have great feet, but she had fantastic hair!
Point #2: āPuberty is stretching like taffy.ā
This Q+A with Dr. Cara Natterson and Vaness Kroll Bennett on the way puberty is different for our children was fascinating. Kids are experiencing puberty earlier and for longer periods, in part because of the way technology has a physiological impact on their minds and bodies, and this interview gave me a lot to think about as our oldest kiddo reaches the awkward tween years.
Point #3: January deserves love, too.
The idea that January has gotten a bad rap is something Iāve heard a lot lately, and this piece is no exception. I generally hate cold weather, but as Iāve grown older Iāve come to appreciate the quiet simplicity that is this first month of year. Give me all the cozy downtime and nights by the fire!
Point #4: What you see is not (always) what you get.
If ever I need to check the pulse of whatās happening in Christian culture,
is my go-to gal. The author of Celebrities for Jesus penned an essay this week on what she calls āthe mirage of Christian influencer friendshipsā and she makes some fantastic points about how, in order for us to hold fast to the virtues of real friendship, we must recognize the monetary gain happening between the partnerships of our faith leaders.Word of the Week
Eunoia: (n.) Beautiful thinking; a well mind.
Reading in The Nook
I was so excited to read Tell Me What Really Happened, as both the premise of five friends who go camping and come back without their ringleader and the format of first-person interview narration was intriguing to say the least. But, man, was this a letdown! Ninety percent of it was great: fast-paced, solid plot, just enough dirt on every character to make you wonder. Then, the ending. No dark, sinister twist, no unexpected turns. Just a boring, āOh, thatās all?ā I read it in less than a day, though, so try it out if you want a quick read thatās good up until the very end.
Now, Iām neck-deep in the delightful and dark Ink, Blood, Sister, Scribe which involves two estranged sisters, magical books, and people who want to use said books for evil deeds. Itās got everything!
Tell me what youāre reading this week! šš¼
āHow much of human life is lost in waiting.ā
āRalph Waldo Emersonā
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